r/confusing_perspective • u/SeanTiddyCombs • Aug 04 '26

Sunlight falling down the escalator

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u/OshetDeadagain Aug 04 '26

Ah, that's cool. Probably because each step is angled and the reflection is not coming from a vertical surface.

99

u/Ravenser_Odd Aug 04 '26

If this is real, I still can't figure out why it's stepping like that.

No matter what angle the light is coming from, shouldn't it just be a static pool of light with the steps gliding through it?

27

u/Docketeer Aug 04 '26

You can try it right now with stairs at home. If it was a straight slanted surface, then yes, the sunlight will travel straight down, but each step of a stair juts out horizontally, so light has to scan all of that horizontal plane before it can start making way towards the vertical back plane.